One of the most daunting tasks when working in historical buildings,
Lampman explained, is making sure they comply with modern codes.

Buildings constructed in the 1800s often present challenges when it comesto the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines, fire codes, andplumbing. “In most old towns they’ve raised the street level so most buildingshave steps; nothing is ever level. We need to modify doorways to make themmeet the ADA code. Fire codes are the next biggest challenge since thematerials that were used in the 1800s are combustible. It’s hard to prove theyhave a fire rating. And we have a lot of situations where there is no secondmeans of egress out of the building. Then with bathrooms and plumbingthere is just limited space for an ADA bathroom. That being said, I think thecity of Fredericksburg is very aware of what a difficult task this is so they tryto be accommodating and they are reasonable. We work with the ARB.”The citizens and business owners of Fredericksburg have a commitment tobeing “good stewards”—Lampman included. “And people who are moving hereare doing their best to modernize old buildings without ruining them. Oftenthey are coming here from areas like D.C. or Charlottesville or Richmond,so they are used to old town challenges. The downtown historic district[in Fredericksburg] has a built-in community that is 100-percent loyal andsupportive. They won’t go to [the large shopping areas]; they invest in thebusinesses that are downtown. We’ve worked in so many different types ofspaces and they all seem to do well because of that [community spirit].”In keeping with the goal of being good stewards, Spaces is committedto salvaging materials from historical sites the team redesigns. This includesthings like using old barn wood to make a conference table, preserving hand-sawnbeams and columns, maintaining floor joists, and re-exposing original brickwalls. “Sometimes you have to prove your case in a sense and reference thehistoric value of the building,” Lampman noted. “There are drastic differencesbetween buildings constructed in the 1950s and 60s and the 1800s. Therehas only been one case in which we have been able to modify the exterior,which was Vivify [a popular burger spot with a rooftop bar]. For the mostpart, the modern portion comes on the interior, which doesn’t necessarilyhave an impact on the overall historic feel of the area.”This ties into the sustainability story when working in a historical area, whichfor Spaces means not only reusing materials and maintaining existing structuresbut also offering an Interiors Library that comprises green products, which clientsdon’t necessarily realize. “In an effort to be good stewards we work to supplymaterials that don’t create a negative impact on the environment,” Lampman said.

Another challenge comes by way of access to product. While many design
firms in more metropolitan areas are regularly called on by manufacturer reps
with the latest offerings, Spaces was slighted in this respect until recently.

➤ continued from page 18

20 interiors+sources november2016 interiorsandsources.com
TOP + RIGHT

Spaces
worked on
both
Mercantile
and FoodE,
two popular
dining spots
in the heart of
Fredericksburg’s
historic
downtown.

Both eateries
feature
preserved
elements
from the
original
buildings’
framework.